Detachable wheel guide for tractor-chain links



May 2 7,")"1930. .J. T; MOORE 1,760,249

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DETAGHABLE WHEEL GUIDE FOR TRACTOR CHAIN LINKS 4 Filed Feb. 26. 1929 LIZ/mm,

w/Mn A Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES Arr FFICE' JOHN TURNER MOORE, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO REX-WATSON CORPORATION, OF CANASTOTA, NEW YORK, A'CQRPORA- TION OF NEW YORK DETACHAIBLE \VHEEL GUIDE FQR TRACTOR-CHAIN LINKS Application filed February 26, 1929. Serial No. 342,814..

This invention relates to improvements in endless tractor chains and particularly to the construction of the individual links forming said chain.

These chains, or thelinks thereof, pass around the supporting wheels of the vehicle as the wheels roll over those links of the chain positioned on the ground and it is customary to form the links with means for preventing undue movement thereof laterally of the peripheries of said wheels.

Such guide means have considerable wear imposed thereon and, broadly stated, the present invention contemplates a wheel guide detachably secured to the links, whereby the usefulness of the link proper may be prolonged by replacement of worn guides in lieu of discarding the entire link, as is the case where the guides are formed integrally with the link proper.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a hollow link having outer and inner walls, the outer wall constituting the tread and the inner wall forming the surface over which the wheels roll. In said inner wall there is an opening whereby a guide member may be partially inserted within the hollow link, that portion of the guide within the interior of the link being formed with 01)- positely disposed projections, one of which interlocks under the inner wall and the other of which is detachably secured to the outer wall. To aid in firmly seating the guide, one of said projections also interlocks with a web in the interior of the link, and on the exterior of said link there are abutments against which the guide engages.

\Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will hereinafter be more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation of a link ,embodying the present invention, the wheels of the vehicle being shown in outline and the guide being removed from one side of the link;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure l; I

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the link;

Fig. 4 isa sectional View on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the guide.

In accordance with common practice, the link is formed with ears or the likelO at its ends, said ears having apertures 11 therein for hinge pins which pivotally connect juxtaposed links in the assembled chain. The link is also formed with anupstanding rib or truss member 12 adapted to be connected to truss members on juxtaposed links of the chain, all as is well understood.

Preferably, the link is hollow, the outer wall 13 constituting the tread and the inner wall 14 forming the surfaces 15 on which the wheels 16 of the vehicle are supported. These wheel supporting surfaces extend from opposite edges of the link about half way to truss member 12, at which point the inner wall is cut away as at 17 Extending transversely of the link from each side of the truss member 12 and at opposite sides of openings 17,

is shown in Fig. 5. The wheel engaging] portion or body'ofthe guide proper 22 has a bifurcated pro ection 23 on one s de thereof and on its other sideithere is extension 2 1 having an aperture 25 therein adapted to register with an aperture 21 in the tread. The guide is strengthened by the provision of a; web'26 connecting body'portion 22 and ex tension 24.

W hen assembled with thelink, each guide is partially received' within the interior of the link, the bottomedge portions 2 2" of the guide resting on the exterior surface of the inner wall 14 and projection 23 interlocking against the interior surface of inner Wall. 14 with the web 20 received in the recess in said projection. The extension 24: is detachably secured to the 'outerwall 18 by a bolt 30 extending through alined apertures 21, 25. When the nut on said bolt is taken up, the guide Will pivot or rock on its bottomedges 22 so that projection 23 Will be clamped against the inner Wall and the body of the guide Will be clamped firmly against the abutments 19. With this arrangement the guides are securely and firmly attachedtothe links.

That I claim is: l. A tractor chain link having a tread portion and a Wheel supporting surface, With a space between said tread portion and surface and a Wheel guidedetachably secured to said link, a portion of said guide projecting into the space between said'tread portion and wheel supporting surface and underlying' the heel supporting surface. I

2. A tractor chain link having a tread portion and a Wheel supporting surface, a Wheel guide, a projection on one side of said guide underlying the Wheel supporting surface and to the link. i JOHN TURNER MOORE.

means at the opposite side of said guide for detachably securing it to the link.

3. A tractor chain link having a tread portion and a Wheel supporting surface, a Wheel guide, aprojection on one side of the guide underlying the Wheel supporting surface, an extension on the opposite side of the guide, and means for detachably securing said eX- tension to the tread portion of thelink.

4:; A tractor chain link having inner and outer Walls, the outer Wallformingthe tread and the inner Wall having a Wheel supportin g surface, a Web connecting said Walls, a

guide member detachably secured on said link, a pro ection on said guide having a recess therein in which said Web is received,

and means for detachably securing said guide to the link.

5. Atractor chain link havinginner and outer Walls, the outer Wall forming the tread and the inner Wall having a Wheel supporting surface, a Web connecting said Walls, a guide member detachably secured on said link, a projection on said guide having a recess therein in which said Web is received,

said projection engaging against the interior of said inner Wall, and means for detachably securing the'guide to the link.

6. A tractor chain link having inner and,

outer Walls, the outer Wall forming the tread and the inner Wall having a Wheel supportmg surface, a Web connecting said Walls, a

guide member detachably secured on said link, a projection on one side of said guide having a recess therein in which said Web is received, said projection engaging against the interior of said inner Wall, an extension on the opposite side of said guide, and fastening means for detachably securing said extension to the outer Wall of said link.

7 A tractor chain link having inner and k outer Walls, the outer Wall forming the tread 

